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Diamond Princess Review

Launched in 2004, Diamond Princess, and her sister ship Sapphire Princess are the only two ships in the fleet that were built in Japan. Recent renovations have added many of the cruise line’s most popular signature elements, including Movies Under the Stars

and The Sanctuary, a tranquil adults-only haven.

Launched in the same year, these sister ships include all the features traditionally enjoyed on Princess's Grand-class vessels, but with a twist. They're larger than their Grand-class fleetmates, yet carry fewer passengers relative to their size. As a result, they have sleeker profiles, a higher ratio of space per person and feel much roomier.

Inside, the arrangement of public rooms is a bit different, with the signature Wheelhouse Bar moved forward of its position on Grand-class ships and, in its place, an expanded Internet Café, where beverages and snacks are served. An Asian-theme full-service spa offers a relaxing thermal suite, for a fee. All the elements of a Princess ship are here, particularly the small-ship atmosphere and sparkling, yet understated, interior decor.

Princess Cruises may be best known for introducing cruise travel to millions of viewers, when its flagship became the setting for The Love Boat television series in 1977. Since that heady time of small-screen stardom, the Princess fleet has grown both in the number and size of ships. Although most are large in scale, Princess vessels manage to create the illusion of intimacy through the use of color and decor in understated yet lovely public rooms graced by multimillion-dollar art collections.

Princess has also become more flexible; Personal Choice Cruising offers alternatives for open seating dining (when you wish and with whom you please) and entertainment options as diverse as those found in resorts ashore.

Lovely chapels or the wide-open decks are equally romantic settings for weddings at sea with the captain officiating.